Malt vs. Shake: What Are the Differences and Similarities?

A milkshake is a beverage that you make by mixing or "shaking" milk until it is frothy. Milkshakes typically contain a mixture of blended whole milk, ice cream, and additional mix-ins, such as strawberry, vanilla, or chocolate syrup, which also acts as a sweetener. Depending on the type of milkshake you’re making, milkshakes can also be made with pre-flavored milks such as chocolate milk.

A malt milkshake or malted milkshake is a kind of milkshake with malted milk powder. Malted milk powder is made from a combination of malted barley, wheat flour, and the evaporated powder of whole milk. Malted milk powder is also a key ingredient in malted milk balls.

The combination of barley and evaporated milk gives the malted milkshake a rich, toasty taste and a thicker consistency than a classic milkshake. Malted milkshakes can also come in a variety of flavors, the most traditional being a vanilla or chocolate malt, and can be served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Malted milk powder is the key ingredient in a malted milkshake, The key difference between a malt and a milkshake is the addition of malted milk powder in a malt. Otherwise, they’re both made of the same ingredients including milk, ice cream, and additional flavorings like fruit syrup or fudge.

However, the addition of malted milk powder to a malt changes a few factors between these two sweet soda fountain drinks. The malt in a malted milkshake gives it a toastier taste than a regular milkshake. A regular milkshake is sweet with a creamy consistency while a malt is more savory with a thicker consistency. Additionally, a malt has a slightly higher amount of nutrients owing to the barley in the malt powder.

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